The sanctionary epileptic, in which America has driven itself in 2014, has long acquired the character of an incurable bad disease, which, having entered the stage of recurrent fever, begins to itself impose on the public body the logic of behavior in relations with Russia. According to a well-known joke, people drink in Russia for two reasons: when it rains and when it does not. It seems that in the near future the matter may reach the point that the sanction packages will be stamped by the conveyor method, and the reason for the next restriction will be the very presence or absence of rain.
This time, the citizens of Russia who support Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his law enforcement agencies - the army, intelligence and law enforcement agencies - did not please the Americans. The bill has already been submitted to the US Congress and published on its website. Sanctions, as always, murderous and irreparable, breaking the fate of those to whom they are imposed. The bill proposes a ban on the issuance of visas and entry into the United States to persons "who act on behalf of the Russian government in direct support of the Venezuelan security forces." Here, a very characteristic revaluation of the damage that such prohibitive measures can do not only to Russians, but to anyone else, is characteristic of Americans.
There is no dispute, for sure there are cranks in Russia, whose main dream is to see New York and die. To deprive them of such an opportunity means to put an end to their life credo. But something tells me that such characters among Russian citizens will be typed at all very low percentage.
Those who believe in radiant hail on a hill and consider America to be the Garden of Eden, the key to which is priceless, have long been firmly established in the so-called liberal camp. These our compatriots, whose number is small and constantly decreasing, are keenly following the moods of the American elite and are trying to carefully implant them into their own understanding of what is happening on the planet. They can’t even dream of a nightmare that they support the "Venezuelan dictator" cursed by Washington.
As for the officials, politicians, officials, heads of organizations related to contractual relations with the state structures of Venezuela, the same oil company PDVSA, I am sure that the opportunity to visit the United States is not at all the main purpose in life. Moreover, I believe that most of them consider such a trip to be absolutely unnecessary even in the long term. If our civil servants need to be present in Washington for matters of state importance, then, as practice shows, even when under sanctions, they are at the right moment completely entrance and welcome guests.
By his decision, the President of the United States has the opportunity to temporarily lift the ban. Nikolai Patrushev and Dmitry Rogozin - people who, in the opinion of American liberals, head the departments that threaten US security, went to the American capital as if nothing had happened.
Under economic sanctions, Rosneft may well please, which continues to buy raw materials from Venezuelan PDVSA bypassing US bans, as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently announced publicly.
On March 11, the American authorities have already added to the Eurofinance Mosnarbank sanctions list for communication with the Venezuelan oil company. The imposition of restrictions implies the freezing of assets under the jurisdiction of the United States, as well as a ban on US individuals and legal entities to enter into transactions with this bank or make transactions. Here it is extremely curious that Washington does not put any obstacles on its own business that purchases Venezuelan oil. It turns out that if a person is an American passport holder, then he is allowed with his money to strengthen and support the “dictator” Maduro and his security officials.
I have a feeling that these troubles are completely surmountable. The Russian authorities have already granted preferences to businesses that have fallen under the American sanctioned skating rink. It must be assumed that the new damage will be compensated for the damage incurred, as long as it happens. If you look around the neighborhood with a clear look, then by and large it will become clear that it, of course, sounds and looks ominous. After all, what a terrible nuisance - American sanctions! But in general, a few years ago, the "torn to pieces of the Russian economy" continues to somehow work and even show some growth. This growth could be higher if it were not for the restrictive policies of Western countries, but as for Europe, it is difficult to say who suffered most from the sanctions measures - European countries or Russia. Rather, the first.
Americans for many years trying to give their sanctions an international status. That is, the European allies should automatically join them. In this case, Washington’s decisions would have gained the weight of UN Security Council resolutions. But this is clearly not the case. So, in particular, Germany, which is a recognized European leader, sent America on an exciting journey through the outskirts of the galaxy when she tried to disrupt the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The more Washington unscrews its hands to its European partners, the less they are likely to succumb to blackmail.
After entering without prior approval and consultation of sanctions against Iran, European companies that bought Iranian oil were at risk of losing huge profits. The EU has made it very clear that it will not tolerate such a situation. The American leadership had to supplement the sanctions package with a list of countries that are exempt from all bans for a certain period. The companies involved in laying the “Sevrnaya Stream - 2” also had to give up on intentions to punish, because the reaction to the idea turned out to be so irritated and negative that further pressure would mean the need to enter into a direct clinch with the allies and bring the matter to rupture.
The Americans were freed up a small area on the market for liquefied natural gas, and the parties dispersed, obviously not too happy with each other.
American sanctions were, are and will be. They are like corruption, induced by the reality of international relations. But if five years ago, our liberal compatriots predicted the inevitable collapse of the “bloody regime” after the next package, then today, I think, even it becomes clear to them that Washington promised to smash Russia to pieces, but in the end it ate sushi.
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editors.